Fish bait or lure.



C. HEDDON.

FISH BAIT OR LURE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I4. 1914.

1,182,010. Patented May9,1916.

Z71 2/6 /2757 k5 wv UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES HEDDON', F DOWAGIAC, MICHIGAN.

FISH BAIT vOR, LURE.

Application filed September 14, 1914.

To all "whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES HEDDON, a

I citizen of the United States, residing at Dowagiac, in the county ofCass and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements inFish Baits or Lures, of which the following is a full, clear, concise,and exact description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing,forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in fish baits or lures, my objectbeing to provide an improved bait or'lure the running depth of which inthe water can be readily varied, regulated and controlled by the user.

In carrying out my invention I provide the bait with one or more fins,the surface area of which is adapted to be expanded or contracted tovary the extent of area or fin surface that is presented to the water.The fin or fins thus cause the bait to dive under the water and to runat a greater or less depth according to the extent of fin surfacepresented to the action of the water.

For the purpose of disclosing my invention I have illustrated in theaccompanying drawings one embodiment thereof.

In these drawings-Figure 1 is a side elevation of an artificial minnowprovided with my improved depth regulating device; Fig. 2 is a bottomview; and Fig. 3 is an end view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated, the artificial minnow comprisesa fishshaped body 4, which is preferably formed of wood and ornamentedin any desired manner. The body 4 has secured thereto, in any suitablemanner and location, a number of hooks 5. A member 6, secured to thehead end of the minnow, has a number of eyes 7 in any one of which thefish line may be fastened. A pair of fin members 8, which may be ofsheet metal or other desired material, are pivotally secured on theunder side of the minnow near the head end thereof by means of a pivotmember, such as the screw 9. Each fin member 8 has an arcuate slot 10therein, through both of which passes a screw 11, which may be screwedinto the body 4 to hold the fins in different positions. A lug 12 isstruck up from each fin member "to aid in positioning it about the pivot9.

In the use ofmy device the depth at which the bait shall run in thewater is regulated by moving the fin members 8 out or in, aboutSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1916.

Serial No. 861,495.

the pivot 9, as indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3, to present agreater or lesser fin surface to the water, as it is drawn therethrough,the bait running deeper or shallower as a greater or lesser fin surfaceis presented. The bait, which floats when at rest on the water, iscaused to dive and run at the depth to which the fins are regulated. Thefin members are preferably so held in place that While they can readilybe expanded or contracted by the fingers of the hand, they will remainin the position to which they are set until manually changed.

It is apparent that various changes, alterations and substitutions maybe made in my invention as set forth herein and in the appended claims,without departing from the scope or principle of the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In an artificial bait, the combination ofa body, a hook secured thereto, means whereby a fish line may be securedto said body whereby it may be drawn through the water,- and a deviceregulating the depth at Which said body will move, having means wherebyit may be adjusted to present different areas of surface to the water.

2. In an artificial bait, the combination of a body, a hook securedthereto, means whereby a fish line may be secured to said body wherebyit may be drawn through the water, and a fin device for regulating thedepth at which said body will move, having means whereby it may beadjusted to present different areas of fin surface to the water.

3. In an artificial bait, the combination of a body, a hook securedthereto and a device for regulating the manner in which said body willtravel through the water, having means whereby itmay be adjusted topresent different areas of surface to the water.

4. In an artificial bait, the combination of a body, a hook securedthereto, and a fin device for regulating the manner in which said bodywill travel through the water, having means whereby it may be adjustedto present different areas of fin surface to the water.

5. An artificial bait comprising an elongated body, means for attachinga line at' one end thereof, a plate movably mounted on said body nearsaid end having its surface enga 'ng a surface of said body and movablet erealong, said plate having an edge movableto extend a greater or;less distance from said body.

6.' An artificial bait comprising an elongated body, means for attachinga line atone end thereof, a plate movably mounted on said body near saidend having its surface engaging a surface of said body and movabletherealong, said plate having an edge movable to extend a greater orless distance from said body, said plate being inclined to the axis ofsaid elongated body.

7. In an artificial bait, the combination of a body, a hook securedthereto, and means for regulating the manner in which said body willtravel in the water comprising a pair of overlapping movable fin membersmounted thereon.

' 8. In an artificial bait, the combination of a body, a hook securedthereto, and means for regulating the manner in which said body willtravel in the water comprising a pair of overlapping movable fin membersmounted on a common pivot.

9. In an artificial bait, the combination of a body, a hook securedthereto, a pair of overlapping movable fin members mounted thereon, andmeansfor holding said members. in different adjusted positions.

10. In an artificial bait, the combination of a body, a hook securedthereto, a pair of overlapping movable slotted fin members mountedthereon, and a screw passing through said slots and into said body for ibait will travel in the Water including a fin of suitable materialarranged to be expanded or contracted to present varylng areas of finsurface to the water.

13. A fish bait or lure comprising means for regulating the manner inwhich said bait Will travel in the water including a fin comprisingoverlapping fan-like fin members arranged to be expanded or contractedto present varying areas of fin surface to the water. I

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two witnesses.

' CHARLES HEDDON.

Witnesses:

W. A. "STALLEY, MABEL ANDREWS.

